By TONY NYONG

UYO — Ineffective leadership has been identified as the bane of Nigeria’s development since independence, despite the abundance of natural and human resources.

President, Nigerian Institute of Management (Chartered), Chief Michael Oluwale-Cole, made the assertion at the opening of the 2013 Annual National Management Conference of the Institute in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

Addressing participants,  Oluwale-Cole said: “It is ironic that Nigeria, blessed with abundant natural and human resources, has not been able to get it right in the area of leadership. Thus, while other nations which are not as equally blessed, have moved on due to purposeful and committed leadership, Nigeria has continued to stagnate in almost all facets of its national life due to leadership ineptitude, widespread corruption, and other social vices that stall every attempt at effective development.

“The theme of this conference was chosen because the institute came to the painful and sad conclusion that more than ever before in the history of its existence, Nigeria needs an urgent solution to the many leadership and governance challenges besetting it, which are threatening the nation’s corporate existence.

“Instead of sitting by, criticising government and trading endless blames on why the country has come to this pathetic crossroads, the NIM, which believes in supporting government in finding solutions to the problems of governance, is using the opportunity provided by this conference to contribute its quota by proffering viable and workable roadmap to the leadership question through the focus on ways to deliver good governance in Nigeria.”